FOSTER CARERS’ DELEGATED AUTHORITY– DECISION SUPPORT TOOL
Fostering Service (Updated:Aug 2015)
This Decision Support Tool is intended to be used to assist social workers, parents, foster carers, supervising social workers and young people to talk to each other about delegated authorityand decision making to the foster carer whilst the child is placed in foster care. It can help to prepare for the initial Placement Planning meeting and each subsequent review when the Placement Plan is considered. It can be used in existing placements when further clarification may help the foster carer understand their delegated responsibilities more clearly. It is an aide to good practice in working with delegated authority.
It is expected that foster carers will be given appropriate flexibility to take decisions relating to children in their caretaking account of the placement plan. Foster carers should be given delegated authority to make day to day decisions regarding things such as health, education and leisure unless there are particular reasons against this. As far as possible foster carers should be able to make the same sort of every day decisions that other parents make so that the child can experience as normal a family life as possible. The delegated authority tool does not replace or replicate the Placement Plan which is the legal requirement for this purpose. The required content of the Placement Plan isset out in Schedule 2 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010 and relevant statutory guidance.
Clarifying who is best placed to take everyday decisions depends on many factors: the young person’s age, their views, legal status and care plan, the parents’ views and the experience and the views of the foster carers. Collaboration and consultation are essential for successful partnership working and it is important that the child or young person is involved in drawing up the document, subject to their age and understanding. This form has been partially completed for ease of use. It should meet most situations for a child in care of the Local Authority. There are some gaps which will need further consideration and completion at the placement planning meeting and in any event, all parts of the form must be checked to ensure they reflect thearrangements needed for the child.Where the child is accommodated, the birth parent’s role in the day to day parenting may be significant and therefore some of the completed boxes may need amending.
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Child/ Young person placed:Social Worker:
Foster Carer:Supervising Social Worker:
1. Medical and Health
Consent/agreement/task / Who has authority to give consent/agreement or undertake the task[1] / Notes (inc. notifications, prior consultation/recording requirement/conditions) / Date1.1 Signed consent to emergency medical treatment inc. anaesthesia / Local Authority / Foster carer must, wherever possible seek the permission from the local Authority by contacting the social worker/manager/service delivery manager/head of service. In out of hours situations the Emergency Duty Service Delivery Manager on call will need to give permission. This will be undertaken in consultation with parents wherever possible. In exceptional cases where no one can be contacted and the situation requires immediate and urgent action a foster carer would need to be guided by the medical Practitioner and the social work service informed at the earliest opportunity. The social work service will work with the foster carer to consult with and liaise with parents.
1.2 Consent – routine immunisations / Foster Carer / The placement planning meeting should address matters of immunisations/health matters and wherever possible the views/consent of the parentsmust be obtained. Where consent has been denied bythe parent, Health should be informed by the social worker.
1.3 Planned medical procedures / Local Authority / Planned treatment should be discussed and agreed with birth parent, social worker and foster carer. Where an anaesthetic is required, the Head of SocialWork must give permission for the operation. Consultation with parents will take place as appropriate.
1.4 medical procedure carried out in the home where the person administering the procedure requires training (e.g child with disability/illness) / Training must be given by a qualified Health professional and then approval can be given for the procedure to be undertaken by the foster carer. No one other that the trained carer may carry out a medical procedure. Parents will be asked to give permission for these procedures to be undertaken by a trained foster carer. Only in exceptional circumstances will parental permission be dispensed with.
1.5 Dental - signed consent to dental emergency treatment inc anaesthetic / Local Authority / See 1.1
1.6 Dental - routine treatment inc anaesthetic / Foster Carer / Pain relief injections are usual in routine dental work and do not require permission unless specifically stated in the placement plan. Routine treatment does not usually involve an anaesthetic.Where an anaesthetic is required permission must be given must be given by Head of Social Work.
1.7 Optician – appointments, prescription glasses / Foster Carer / This is routine and should be reported in the child’s review.
1.8 Consent to examination /treatment by community paediatrician / Foster Carer / For routine non invasive examination only e.g. health needs assessment or secondary referral clinic e.g. weight management. All other examinations should be agreed with the social worker beforehand.
1.9 Administration of prescribed/over the counter medications / Foster Carer / The dosage would normally be managed by the foster carer and kept in the foster carers locked medicine cupboard. Foster Carer must record all prescribed medication given to the child, ensuring this information is available for social worker/birth parent.
1.10 Permission for school to administer prescribed/over the counter medications / Foster Carer / Schools are usually unwilling to administer medication, but they will make the decision on case by case basis
For regular medication, individual schools will draw up a plan to administer medication and the foster carer should approach the school to arrange. In some cases the school may require the written permission of the social worker.
1.11 Referral/ consent for child to access another service e,g CAMHS / Social Worker / In discussion with foster carer and parent and then referral via the Therapeutic panel.
2. Education
Consent/agreement/task / Who has authority to give consent/agreement or undertake the task / Notes (inc. notifications, prior consultation /recording requirement/conditions) / Date2.1 Signed consent for school day trips / Foster Carer / Unless specifically excluded in placement plan.
2.2 Signed consents for school trips of up to 4 days / Foster Carer in discussion with the Social Worker / For long term placements the foster carer will usually be given the authority to agree this. Where further permissions are required, this will be stated in the placement plan Where additional Local Authority payment is required prior agreement must be sought from the Social Worker.
2.3 Signed consents for school trips of over 4 days / As above
2.4 School trips abroad / Social Worker / Parental permission will be sought for a child on a S20 placement and wherever appropriate for a child on a care order.
2.5 Using computers at school / Foster Carer
2.6 School photos / Foster Carer / Unless specifically excludedwithin the placement plan.
2.7 Attendance at parents’ evenings / Foster Carer / Birth parent may also wish to attend and this should be established at the outset of the placement and arrangements agreed. This is especially important in temporary placements.
2.8 Attendance at PEP meetings / Foster carer / As above.
2.9 Attendance at unplanned meetings re incidents or immediate issues / FosterCarer / Foster Carer should usually be the first person of contact.Social worker should be informed ASAP prior to the meeting if at all possible.
2.10 Registering at a school / FosterCarer/
Social Worker / It is sometimes easier and more effective for the foster carer to register the child with permission from the social worker. There are other issues to take into consideration including any other children in school with a family connection to the placed child.
2.11 Changing a school / Foster Carers should discuss any proposals with social worker, Independent Reviewing Officer and birth parent before making arrangements as this would count as a significant change in the care plan. The children’s LAC review in year 6 would be a good place to discuss high school choices and no changes should be made without discussion which would disrupt the child’s education in key Stage 4.
2.12 Referral/ consent for YP to access another service (please specify the service) / As above
2.13 Personal Health and Social Education / Foster Carer / Note in temporary placements therewill bea need to actively seek the views of birth parents in case of religious and cultural views. Foster Carers may find it helpful to discuss their approach with the child’s social worker/ ssw.
3. Personal, leisure and home life
Consent/agreement/task / Who has authority to give consent/agreement or undertakethe task / Notes (inc. notifications, prior consultation /recording requirement/conditions) / Date3.1 Passport application / Social Worker / Can only be applied for by someone holding PR.
3.2 Overnight with friends (‘sleep over’) / Foster Carer / Fostering National Minimum standard 7.7 makes it clear this should be the foster carer unless there is a specific exclusion written into the placement plan. Foster carers must satisfy themselves of the safety and appropriatenessof the arrangement
3.3 Overnight/weekend and short stays with foster carers’ family and friends. / Foster Carer / Foster Carers should ensure they have checked out any general or specific safe care issues pertinent to the child, e.g. checking sleeping arrangements, children being left without an adult present.
3.4 Overnight/weekend and short stays with birth family members and friends (please cross reference with section 6 on contact). / Social Worker / Placement plan should specify any arrangements for contact with birth family and whether any delegation can be given to foster carer to make additional informal arrangements.
3.5 Holidays within the British Islands / Foster Carer / Note:camping/caravan holidays may not be suitable for some looked after children. If in doubt discuss with social worker.
3.6 Holidays outside the British Islands / Social Worker / Letter from social worker required to give permission to take the child out of the country.
3.7 Sports/ social clubs / Foster Carer / Recommend discussion with social worker.
3.8 More hazardous activities- e.g. horse riding, skiing, rock climbing / Foster Carer / Following discussion with social worker: consideration must be given to additional risk factors e.g. disability, poor attention span, poor impulse control.
3.9 Haircuts/colouring / Foster Carer / Foster Carer undertakes this task in discussion and agreement with child unless specifically excluded in placement plan. Foster carers should take into consideration the wishes of the birth parents being sensitive to any religious or cultural views and also child’s views.
3.10 Body piercing / In English law, it is illegal for under 16s to have their genitals pierced. It is also illegal for females under 16 to have their breasts pierced, although this does not apply to males under 16.
3.11 Tattoos / It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to have a tattoo
3.12 Mobile phone / Foster Carer / Initially discussion with social worker may be appropriate in case of any safeguarding issues. Thereafter Foster Carer should agree usage with child. House rules about mobile phones should generally be observed. Safe guarding matters may require phones to be left downstairs during sleeping hours. In case of disagreement between carer and child, advice may need to be taken from social worker/ssw/independent reviewing officer in order to seek a workable compromise. Please also see separate social networking guidance.
3.13 Part time employment / Foster Carer/Social Worker / Depending on age and type of work.
3.14 Accessing social networking sites e.g.Face book, Twitter, MSN / Foster Carer / The child must be 13 or over and regulating the site should be the responsibility of the person providing the computer.Initially discussion with social worker advisable in order to consider specific safeguarding issues for child. Advice sheet for foster carers is available for reference and guidance.
3.15 Photos or other media activity / This should be agreed on a case by case basis by social worker and foster carer.
4 Faith and religious observance
Consent/agreement/task / Who has authority to give consent/agreement or undertake the task / Notes (inc. notifications, prior consultation /recording requirement/conditions) / Date4.1 New or changes in faith, church or religious observance / All / All involved in the care and spiritual development of the child should make the decisions required.Birth parent and social worker must agree any changes depending on age of child.
4.2 Attendance at a place of worship / Foster Carer / Specify in placement plan if permission is required from birth parent.
5 Identity and Names
Consent/agreement/task / Who has authority to give consent/agreement or undertake the task / Notes (inc. notifications, prior consultation /recording requirement/conditions) / Date5.1 Life story work / Social Worker/Foster Carer / In discussion with foster carer and birth parent and therapeutic worker (where active involvement).
5.2 New or changes in ‘nicknames’, order of first names, or preferred names. / Foster carers or social workers do not have the right to change the first name or order of names. Nicknames are something that the child has to be happy about and accepts.
- Contact
Consent/agreement/task / Who has authority to give consent/agreement or undertake the task / Notes (inc. prior consultation/ notification /recording requirement/conditions) / Date
6.1 Transport / Foster Carer / Expectation that foster carer will assist and participate in contact for children. This is particularly important for babies and young children. However social workers need to be mindful of the foster carers other children in the family home and any implications for them when making requests.
6.2 Arranging / SocialWorker / Social worker maymake initial arrangements and then should discuss delegating to foster carer. This should be detailed in placement plan.
6.3 Facilitation / As above
6.4 Formal supervision / As above .Level 4 foster carers may also have an assessment role to play in the supervised contact arrangement and this will be agreed within the placement plan.
- Other areas or categories
Consent/agreement/task / Who has authority to give consent/ agreement or undertake the task / Notes (inc. prior consultation/notification /recording requirement/conditions) / Date
Respite / It is acknowledged that for some children, the challenges they present may be great and foster carers may need to have a break to recharge their batteries, particularly in long term placements. Level 4 carers also have 28 days leave entitlement as part of their terms and conditions.
Whenever respite is being considered there must be afull discussion with the social worker and the SSW. It needs to be acknowledged that for young children, respite and being cared for by other people can be detrimental to their emotional development, this is particularly so for children under 2 years.
Baby sitting / Foster carers should ensure baby sitters are 18 years or older unless there are exceptional circumstances. In such cases, the foster carer must discuss the details with the child’s social worker/ ssw.
- Additional notes
Every child is unique and the key to good care is communication and sensitivity as responsibilities are not always as clear cut as we would like them to be. Other factors may come into play such as other children in care in the same placement and foster carers’own birth children.
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- Signatures
Foster carer/s:
Child/Young Person:
Social Worker:
Supervising Social Worker:
Date:
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Updated Aug 2015
1
June 2012
[1]More than one than one person could have authority to give a particular consent/agreement or undertake a particular task, e.g. both the parent and foster carer may be attending parents’ evenings. If this is the case, the individuals’ respective roles should be clarified in the “Notes” column.